"Trash?"
"Say, Young Master Dai, have you ever heard this saying?!"
The corners of Chen An's mouth lifted slightly. This was a perfect chance to get closer to Dai Mubai. Though his character wasn't much to speak of, he was a prince, after all.
"Hmph!"
"Nothing you say can change your status as roadside trash."
Dai Mubai seriously suspected that the boy before him had drunk too much. A Lone Bamboo with two ten-year soul rings, yet he dared prance around so arrogantly.
"There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters!"
The Lone Bamboo in Chen An's palm instantly transformed into a bamboo sword, continuously giving off the chill of Ultimate Ice.
"You..."
"How is that possible?"
"How can your Martial Soul change shape? Bamboo is bamboo. How can it turn into a sword?"
Dai Mubai rubbed his eyes, astonished.
"Heh."
"Have you ever seen a monster that's just like an ordinary person?"
Naturally, Chen An didn't answer directly. This was his most important trump card.
He knew full well that whatever shape it took, it was still fundamentally Lone Bamboo, inheriting all of Lone Bamboo's strengths and weaknesses.
For instance, the bamboo sword's quality certainly fell far short of a real iron sword.
Chen An mainly wanted something comfortable to wield, and secondarily, something that could put Ultimate Ice to good use.
After all, he didn't possess an Ice Jade Empress Scorpion Martial Soul whose very essence was supposedly Ultimate Ice. His Lone Bamboo simply had Ultimate Ice attached to it.
But that was enough for Chen An.
"Tch!"
"Just changing your Martial Soul's shape makes you think you can call yourself a monster?"
Dai Mubai scoffed.
But inwardly, he had to admit that he'd met someone who could show off even more than he could.
"Enough talk. Take this!"
"First Soul Skill, Thrust!"
Chen An swung his bamboo sword and charged at Dai Mubai.
The latter simply sidestepped, dodging with ease.
"Ah!"
"Fighting you really lowers my standing. How about this? I'll challenge both your Soul Skills with just my first!"
Chen An shook his head and laughed inwardly. Isn't Dai Mubai a little too confident?
Thinking he can defeat me with just a White Tiger Protective Barrier is nothing but a fool's dream!
"Ice Slash!"
The sword Qi formed from Ultimate Ice pounced on Dai Mubai like a ferocious tiger.
"White Tiger Protective Barrier!" Sensing that he couldn't dodge the strike, Dai Mubai could only activate his first Soul Skill to block it.
Bang!
The instant the sword Qi touched the White Tiger Protective Barrier, the barrier shattered with an exceptionally loud crack.
Before Dai Mubai could react, the residual force of the sword Qi sent him flying into the wall.
"Hiss..."
"I didn't expect your second Soul Skill to be so powerful!"
Dai Mubai loosened up his body, his interest immediately piqued.
He was very curious how a ten-year soul ring could possess such overwhelming power.
"Let's see what other tricks you're hiding!"
"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
Dense white light rapidly gathered in Dai Mubai's mouth, and a dazzling wave of light instantly blasted straight out.
Chen An stood quietly, without the slightest intention of dodging.
He chuckled and slowly uttered the words, "Ice... Slash!"
The sword Qi formed from Ultimate Ice collided with the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave the instant it shot out.
Feeling his light wave being obstructed, Dai Mubai hurriedly poured in more Soul Power to strengthen it.
However.
Chen An made no further move.
His eyes were closed, the corners of his mouth raised, as he quietly waited for the result.
Boom!
After roughly ten seconds.
The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave was still torn apart by the sword Qi.
This time, the power of Ultimate Ice was just right. Dai Mubai only retreated a few steps rather than being sent flying as he had been the first time.
"How is that possible?"
"Again!"
"Third Soul Skill..."
Dai Mubai refused to believe it. How could a Soul Skill provided by a ten-year soul ring possess such heaven-defying power?
He could clearly sense that Chen An's second Soul Skill was far stronger than his first.
Both Soul Skills came from ten-year soul rings, so how could the gap be so great?!
"Hey!"
"Aren't you going too far?"
"Didn't you promise not to use your second and third Soul Skills?!"
Xiao Wu showed Dai Mubai no consideration for his dignity, loudly protesting.
"Count it as my loss. Chen An, right? I'll be waiting for you at Shrek Academy!"
"Oh, and my name is Dai Mubai!"
Dai Mubai didn't dawdle, directly revealing his identity.
"Wait!"
Seeing Dai Mubai about to leave, Chen An hurriedly called him back.
"What is it?" Dai Mubai turned to look, his arm around a woman.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to tell you something."
"What?"
Dai Mubai froze for a moment.
Chen An tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I never said Ice Slash was my second Soul Skill!"
"Hmm?" Dai Mubai's brows knitted tightly, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes before quickly disappearing. "A monster, a monster. You really are a monster!"
He gave a derisive laugh.
So Chen An was the one who had used his first Soul Skill against both the first and second Soul Skills.
Perhaps, in his eyes.
He was as laughable as a prancing clown.
After getting the key.
Chen An had planned to go rest.
Suddenly.
Tang San, who had been watching the spectacle, quietly pulled him aside.
"Xiao An, what exactly is your second Soul Skill?"
Chen An suppressed his laughter.
He first pretended to think for a while, then shook his head. "I can't say. It's my trump card."
Tang San was left somewhat speechless.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.
Who would believe that a ten-year soul ring could serve as a Soul Master's trump card?
"Ah, Xiao San, everyone has their own secrets. Secrets aren't something you can casually tell others!"
There was a hint of helplessness in Chen An's tone.
And he very deliberately placed heavy emphasis on the word "secrets."
Tang San's brows furrowed tightly, and he swallowed the words he had been about to say.
"Forget it. It's better to keep secrets to yourself, lest they cause unnecessary trouble!"
With that, he left of his own accord.
Chen An sighed.
This method isn't really working.
Unless I bring out something comparable to Tang Sect Hidden Weapons and the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.
Otherwise, God King Tang won't foolishly agree to a trade.
Just then.
An idea flashed through Chen An's mind.
As long as I seize the opportunities that belong to Tang San.
Then bestow them on him.
Once Tang San owes too many favors to repay, won't he be easier to control?
It's like wanting someone's secret manuals and magical treasures. Better to turn him directly into a puppet on strings, so I can have both the person and the treasures without sacrificing either.
The more Chen An thought about it, the more wicked he felt he was.
However.
This was precisely the outcome he wanted.
Anything that became an obstacle on his path to dominating Douluo and reaching the peak would have to be cleared away.
"Xiao An!"
"Get over here!"
Xiao Wu sat by the bed, displeasure written all over her face.
"Oh, come on!"
"My dear Xiao Wu, what's wrong now?!"
Chen An gave a bitter laugh.
Although they hadn't formally established their relationship, both understood how the other felt.
"How many times have I told you?!"
"Stay away from Xiao San! Away from him!"
"Do you like him, or do you like me?!"
Hearing this, Chen An was utterly speechless.
If I'd known, I wouldn't have let Xiao Wu read the rest of that gay romance novel.
It really does people no end of harm!
"Xiao Wu!"
"I'm really not gay! I only like women!"